Fire-proof construction



(No Model.) f shgelts-Sheet 2.

W. ORB.

FI'RE-PROOF CONSTRUCTION.

No.- 4713772. Patented Mar.f29, 1892.

Maze.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No ModeL) (IRR.Y PIRE PROOF CONSTRUCTION.

y Patented Mar. 29,1892.

me noms Ps1-:ws co., anonymen, wnsmrmron, u, c,

UNITED STATES Pi/irnnrr OFFICE.

VILLIAM ORR, OF TRENTON, NEW' JERSEY.

FIRE-PROOF CONSTRUCTION.

SlPEGFICATION forming part of. Letters Patent No. 471,772, dated March 29, 1892.

Appncanon'fued Apni is, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM ORR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, county of Mercer, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Proof Construction, fully described and represented in the following' specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

In fire-proof floor and ceiling construction it is necessary that the floor-beams be thoroughly protected against the action of fire. For this purpose arches of hollow or common brick or tile are generally laid between the floor-beams. This adds greatly to the cost, as the tiling has to be made of great strength to carry the heavy load, and the tile and brick and laying of the same are very expensive. In the case of the arches, also, the under sides of the Hoor-beams are'left exposed unless protected otherwise, as by metallic lathing.

The object of the present invention is to providean improved oor and ceiling construction which shall avoid the use of thesebrick arches and similar constructions, thus reducing the weight of the structure, while at the same time all the tire-proof qualities of the brick-and-tile construction are retained.

To this end my invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of parts', all of which will be particularly described in the following specification, and pointed out in the claims. Y

For a full understanding of my invention a vdetailed description of constructions e-mbodying it in its preferred forms will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a section of a floor and ceiling construction transverse to the beams, showing one application of my invention. Fig. 2 isa section on the line 2 2 of Fig. i. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. l, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5 and showing a construction employing hollow lathing-blocks. Fig. 5. is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the hollowblock construction before and after the application of the plastic material.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 3, showing a construction Serial No. 388,680. (No model.)

Figs. 11.,

are the floor-beams of the usual I form; B, Suspenders; C, metallic lathing supported by the Suspenders, being attached, preferably, by the wire lacings a, as shown; D, a body of cement or other plastic `material forming a connecting-web between the upper parts of the beams; E, ribs extending downward from the web D and formed of bodies of the same material extending from beam to beam and surrounding the suspenders, and F a body of plastic o rY other suitable material applied to the lathing C and Vforming the iceiling. The Suspenders D are preferably made of at iron bars hooked around the top anges of the beams and bent downward, preferably close to the edges of the flanges, so that the bottom line of the suspender is on or about on aline with the bottoms of the beams. The suspenders may be very light; but they must be of sufcient width to give the cement rib resting thereon sufficient area so that the crushing strength of the cement will about equal the tensile strength of the bar, and both the bar and cement rib must have sufficient strength to support with asufficient factor of safety the load' required. The Suspenders are placed at suitable distances apart along the beams, as shown in Fig. 2, and between them and the ribs E in the complete construc- `upon the lower flanges of thebeams A, these formers being so constructed that they may be placed in position and then lengthened, so as to rest at both ends upon the anges, being shortened again for removal. They may, however, be supported by frames or hooks or in any other suitable manner. These blocks are placed at a distance apart equal ICO ing between the vertical arms of the sus-1 pender-rods and between them andthe beams, so that the cement is bonded together by the Suspenders and the load sustained thereby.'

l A Sufficient amount of cement is applied So as to give the thickness desired to the web D above the formers, this extending, preferably, to the level `of the tops of the beams and Suspenders. After the cement has set the for'mers are removed,.leavin g the air-Spaces Gr, and the lathingC of woven wire or perforated `metal is secured to the Suspenders, preferably by vlacing by wires aas shown in Fig. 2, these wiresbeingplacedaboutthesuspendersbefore theucement is applied.' The usual ceiling of plaster ,is thenapplied to the lathing O, com pletingthe construction. With this constructionemploying the Suspenders it will be found thatthestrength is So distributed that a comparativelysmall amount of plasticmaterial isreq-uired. The floor-.load is lessened to onehalf that .of brick-arch `floors and the side thrust against the ,beams lin the ordinary brick or tile arch construction is converted intoV very nearly a dead weight upon the beams. A continuous web of plastic materialextending 4from beam to beam is also provided, which web is so supported by the suspenders and ribs that a slight displacement of ,a beam will not disrupt it and allow it to collapse, asin the ordinary .brick or tile construction. Tile could be laid directly upon this cement or a Wood floor, the same'as upon a filled-in brick-arch floor, except that no filling in would l.be required, the scantlings resting directly upon the cement.

The Suspenders may be employed, also, in combination with the hollow lathing-blocks of my application, Serial No. 284,755, filed September 6, 1888. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, in which the hollow lathing-blocks Il extend from beam to beamandare supported by the beam-flanges, these hollow iblocks binding together the material of the web D and ribs E. The hollow blocks will preferably be formed b'y bending sheets of woven wire or perforated sheet metal so as to form the hollow blocks H, lhaving lthree sides and open below, the fourth side-,being formed and the blocks closed by the attachment of the lathing-sheet C for the ceiling, which is secured to the bot-tom edges of theblocks by lacing, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. This construction is preferred, as it enables formers to be used inside the hollow blocks, against which the cement is tamped from above as it is applied; but it will be understood that the blocks Il may be closed blocks,if preferred, and their lower sides form the ceiling-lathing; but this provides no firm body against which to tamp the cement. In making this construction the series of open blocks will first be placed in position and the formers, previouslydescribed, mounted inside them, the suspenders being placed in position, as shown at the left 'in Fig. 5, either before or after the insertion of the formers. The spaces between the blocks and about the Suspenders arev then filled with cement or other material from above, as in the construction employing the formers, the cement being tamped firmly against the formers inside the blocks. After the cement has set the formers are removed andthe ceiling Y.

applied, the hollow lathing-blocks being left in position and forming part of the complete construction, as shown at the right'in Fig. 5. This construction is somewhat more expensive, but is stronger, as thev cement is thoroughly bon ded by the Wire or perforated metal of the blocks. The web of cement can, however, be well bonded together without the use of the hollow blocks by the con-,struction shown in Figs. '7 and 8, in which sheets of Woven wire or perforated metal Kextend from beam to beam, being lapped overeach other above the ribs E. In making this construction the..

removable blocks or formers are used, as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, andthe spaces are filled even with or a little above the tops of the formers and the sheets of woven wire or perforated metal K then placed in position upon the cement and the filling continued above the sheets until the required amount of cement is spread. The cement thus bonded has the tensile strength of the wire or metal to hold it together, and ythe latter aids very materially in strengtheningand stiffening the construction. Instead of using the removable blocks and forming airspaces in this construction, a straight centering may be supported under the beams and the plastic material be spread and tamped in from above, as before, so as to form a solid mass of the required thickness, the sheets of woven wire or perforated `sheet metal forming a bond, as before.

While I prefer to hook the Suspenders over the tops 0f the beams, it is evident that they may be otherwise supported. Thus inv Fig. 9 I have shown a construction in which the suspender iS supported by the lower flanges of the beams, the ends of the suspender -be ing bent around the flanges of the beams,. with the body of the suspender level with ther bottoms of the beams. The ends of thesusweb of the beams, as shown at b in this figure,

'or may simply rest upon the flanges, as shown at c. When the cement is Set, it will be Vfound that the ends are held securely in place and that the structure is of lsufficient strength where great weights are not to be supported. l

A strongerstruclure can be made and one TOO IIO

in which the liability of cracking the ceilingplaster by deflection is more fully avoided by the use of what may be called an arch-Suspender, as Shown in Fig. 10. ln this construction the bar B is continuous and hooked over the tops of the iianges, as before, and a supporting-bar M of suitable Size and length iS Sprung in between the vertical arms of the Suspender, with its ends held in the lower angles of the suspender, where they may be Secured in place by lacing or otherwise, it desired. The arch-bar M of the Suspender will preferably be of sufficient width and So shaped as to fill the Spaces between the form-y erS or hollowr blocks of the constructions previously described, so that the cement or plastic material applied from above will fill only the Spaces above the arch-bar and air-Spaces N Willbe left below the Same. The thrust of the arch is then nearly a dead-weight on the beams, being Supported by the horizontal portion of the Suspender-bar B, the tensile strength of which in case of excessive load is aided by the beams, against the iiangesiof which it wouldrest in case of any elongation.

While I prefer to leave the Spaces Nopen, as above described, as an additional Security against possible deiiection of the ceiling and to facilitate lacing of the lathing, this space also may be filled with cement, if desired, in which case the lacing-wires willfirst be at- .tached to the Suspenders, as previously described, or other Suitable means provided for the attachment of the metallic latliing. If this space be filled, however, it will be Seen that most of the floor-load is still transferred to an endwise thrust upon the horizontal por-V tion of the suspender-bar B.

The Suspender-bars B need not be formed from a single continuous bar, as it is evident that the Same results can be attained by other constructions, some of whichI have Shown in Figs. 11 to 13. Thus the hooks and the verf tical arms of the Suspenders may be separate from the horizontal portions and the latter consist of straight bars passing through openings in the lower ends of the vertical arms and adj ustably Secured in position by nuts d,

as Shown in Fig. 11, each hook supporting one or more bars on only one side of the beam, as shown at the left of the ligure, or being provided with two vertical arms, so as to form a Support on each side of the beams, aS shown at the right of the gure.

The horizontal bars may be formed with hooks e at each end, which are hooked through openings in the vertical arms, as shown in Fig. 12, the double-arm construction being applicable, also, to this construction. The vertical arms and horizontal portions may be continuous and the hooks formed of Separate pieces, as Shown in Fig. 13, the vertical arms being passed through openings in the hooks and secured by nuts f, or the connection made in any other Suitable manner. In these constructions the arch-bar M may be used,-as shown in these figures, or omitted, in accordance with the constructions previously described.

It is evident that many other modifications maybe made in the construction shownwithout departing from my invention, and the con- Structions Shown are Selected only as the preferable forms of many in which my invention may be embodied.

What yI claim is- 1. The combination, with Hoor-beams, of a series of Suspenders Supported by said beams and exten ding from beam to beam and a body of cement or other plastic material forming a web and a Series of ribs extending from beam to beam, said weblying above said suspenders and the ribs extending downward from said web and being supported by the suspenders, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with Hoor-beams, of a series of Suspenders consisting of metal bars supported by the tops of the beams and extending downward toward the bot-toms of the beams and then from beam to beam, and a body of cement or other plastic material forming a web and series of ribs extending` from beam to beam, said web lying above said Suspenders and the ribs extending downward from said web and having the Suspenders embedded therein, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with floor-beams, of a series of Suspenders supported by said beams and extending from beam to beam, abody of cement or other plastic material forming a web and Series of ribs extending from beam to beam, said web lying above said Suspenders and the ribs extending downward from said web and being supported by the Suspenders, and woven wire or perforated sheet metal e'xtending from beam to beam and vforming a bond for said plastic material, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with Hoor-beams, of a Series of Suspenders Supported by said beams and extending from beam to beam, a body of cement or other plas-tic material forming a web and series of ribs extending from beam to beam, said web lying above said suspenders and thev ribs extending downward from said web and being Supported by the suspenders, and hollow metallic lathing-blocks lying between Said Suspenders and forming bonds for the plastic material, Substantially as described.

5. The combination, with Hoor-beams, of a series of Suspenders Supported by said beamsV and extending from beam to beam, a bodyof cement or other plastic material forming a web and series of ribs extending from beam to beam, said web lying above Said Suspenders and the ribs extending downward from said 'web and being Supported by the suspenders,

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beams and extending from beam to beam, and

fl j 471,772

rial forming a web and series of ribs extend.

ing from beam to beam, said web lying above said Suspenders and the ribs extending downward from said web and resting on the arched bars of the Suspenders, substantially as described.

series of Suspenders supported on the tops of the beams and extending downward and then from beam to beam, a body of cement or other .plastic material extending from beam to beam and supported by said Suspenders, and Woven wire or perforated sheet metal forming a bond for said plasticmaterial, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with floor-beams, of a series of Suspenders supported by said beams and extending from beam to beam and a iioor of fire-proof material supported by said suspenders, with air-spaces extending from beam to beam between adjacent Suspenders, substantially as described.

l0. The combination, with the beams A, of the suspender B, having end bars hooked over the top of the beams and extending downward from the flanges of the beams, and a separate bar Supported by Said end bars and extending from beam to beam and having an adjustable connection with said end bars, whereby the length of the horizontal bar between the end bars and their position may be adjusted, substantially as described.

l l. The com bination, with the suspender B, hooked over the tops of the beams and extending downward toward the bottoms of the beams and then from beam to beam, of bars M, sprung into position with their ends held in the angles between the vertical and horizontal parts of the suspender and forming an arch above the latter, substantially as def scribed, 8. The combination, with door-beams, of a '12. The combination, with the beams A, of

the suspender B, hooked over the tops of the beams and extending downward from the :iiangesof the beams and then horizontally from beam to beam, bar M, sprungv into position with its ends held in the angle between the vertical and horizontal parts of the Suspender and forming an arch above the latter, and metallic lathing C, suspended from the horizontal part of the suspender, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM ORR. Witnesses:

I-I. N. COMING, JAMES J. WILsoN. 

